Display device



1%. 4, 1%. G, H AND EW ma ma DISPLAY DEVICE Filed March 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NTOR Feba 4, 1936. G. H ANDREWS zm m DISPLAY DEVICE Fi led March 22, 1954 2 Sheets-$heet 2 Patented Feb. 4, 1936 UNITED STATES DISPLAY DEVICE George H. Andrews, Yonkers, N. Y., assignor to The Spool Cotton Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application March 22, 1934, Serial No. 716,766

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel and improved form of display device, the novel features of which will be best understood from the following description and the annexed drawings, in which I have shown a selected embodiment of the invention and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device in nondisplay condition;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same device in condition to display the materials therein;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the rear end of the device.

The invention is of particular utility in connection with the display of material such as yarns or threads, and, for the purpose of illustration, I have selected a device adapted to display such materials. In displaying crocheting yarn, for example, it has been a problem to provide a convenient method of advertising or-showing the patterns for which the yarn may be used. According to my invention, however, a ready way is provided for displaying the yarns themselves and also for making readily available information as to the use to be made of the yarns.

The device comprises a container which for sake of convenience I shall term a box I having the usual bottom 2 and vertically extending sides 3 and ends 4 and 5. When in the non-display condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the yarns or other material may be disposed in the box 'between partitions 6 and may conveniently be in the form of balls I of conventional shape, although, it is, of course, to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to yarns arranged in other ways than in balls.

Disposed on top of the box is a transparent cover 8 of any suitable material and which is secured to a frame 9 having a flange l0 extending peripherally thereof so as to overlap the sides and ends of the box. Beneath the cover 8 is disposed a plurality of sets of instructions, here shown as in the form of books I I which may be placed between the tops of the balls of yarn I and the cover. A sheet of paper I2 may be interposed between the books and the yarn if desired, in order to protect the yarn from being soiled. In the particular form of box shown, spacers I3 and M are shown at one end of the box, but, of course, these are details which have nothing to do with the particular invention.

Hinged to the rear end 5 of the box is an easel l5 which may be joined to the end 5 by a flap 16 forming the hinge connection, In the non-dis;

play condition shown in Figs. 1 and 3, this easel may be folded under the cover, as plainly shown in Fig. 3.

When it is desired to display the material in the container, the cover is removed and then the easel may be swung on its hinge to the position shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, so that its lower end may contact with the surface I! of a table or the like and thus support the rear end of the box. In order to aid in holding it in position, a snap fastener may be employed which is here shown as formed of a male member I8 on the rear end and a female member IS on the easel. When the easel is in the operative position shown in Figs. 2, 4, and 5, an envelope 29 secured on the easel may be used as a receptacle for the sets of instructions H, which can be removed from the box and placed Within the envelope. The cover may then be put back in place, and it will be seen that the flange H] engages the top of the easel to make a more rigid connection between the easel and the box. The envelope may be of any suitable form, but is here shown as comprising collapsible sides 2| and a bottom 22, so that, when not in display condition, it may be collapsed and thus readily received beneath the 8.

From the above it will be seen that the device may be readily converted from the inoperative or non-display condition shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to the display condition shown in Fig. 2, in which the materials will be readily discernible through the transparent cover 8 and in which the rear end will be raised and securely held in position so as better to present the materials to inspection of the purchaser. This raising of the rear end likewise presents the sets of instructions to the purchaser so that they may be readily grasped as they extend above the rear end of the box, as plainly seen from the drawings. These sets of instruments preferably contain not only instructions as to how to do crocheting work, but also suggest patterns which may be followed and colors which may be used to create those patterns. The yarns for use in following the suggestions may be readily displayed to the purchaser through the transparent cover, ordinarily the yarns being provided in a variety of colors from which a suitable selection can be made by the purchaser. At the same time, the transparent cover protects the yarn from being soiled by handling of careless purchasers.

While I have shown the invention as embodied in a specific form, it is to be understood that various changes in details may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and

I therefore do not intend to limit myself except by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A display device comprising a box adapted to contain materials to be sold, an easel hinged to one end of said box whereby it may be brought within the box or into supporting position outside thereof, and a cover beneath which said easel is disposed when within the box, said cover when in place on the box having a flange extending over said end of the box and engaging the easel to hold said easel against the end of the box when in supporting position.

2. A display device comprising a box adapted to contain materials to be sold, an easel hinged to one end edge of said box whereby it may be brought within the box or into supporting position outside thereof, means on the easel and box end to detachably hold the easel against the box end when in supporting position, and a cover beneath which said easel is disposed when within the box.

3. A display device comprising a box adapted to contain materials to be sold, an easel hinged to one end of said box whereby it may be brought within the box or into supporting position outside thereof, means on the easel and box end to detachably hold the easel against the box end when in supporting position, and a cover beneath which said easel is disposed when within the box, said cover when in place on the box having a flange extending over said end of the box and en gaging the easel to hold said easel against the end of the box when in supporting position.

4. A display device comprising a box adapted to contain materials to be sold, an easel hinged to one end of said box whereby it may be brought within the box or into supporting position outside thereof, a cover beneath which said easel is disposed when within the box, said cover having a flange to hold said easel against the end of the box when in supporting position, and an envelope on said easel and disposed beneath said flange when the easel is in said supporting position.

GEORGE H. ANDREWS. 

